BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — A new date for a do-over mayoral primary in Bridgeport has been proposed for Jan. 23.
Sparked by allegations of ballot box stuffing, Democratic mayoral candidate John Gomes filed a successful lawsuit that overturned the Sept. 12 primary that saw incumbent Mayor Joe Ganim come out victorious after absentee ballots were counted.
Ganim won by 251 votes out of the 8,173 cast that day.
Days after the election, a video surfaced of a Bridgeport city employee and Ganim campaign worker dropping off large batches of absentee ballots to the collection boxes outside of City Hall.
On Nov. 1, Superior Court Judge William Clark determined the allegations of possible malfeasance warrant throwing out the results of the Sept. 12 primary.
On Wednesday, both candidates in Connecticut’s largest city confirmed they agree with holding the new primary next month.
Gomes officially joined Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas’ proposed order seeking a Jan. 23 primary date. Thomas' seven-page order was filed Wednesday with the Superior Court.
Thomas' proposed order also includes new safeguards for handling absentee ballots.
Gomes' opponent, Democratic Mayor Joe Ganim, issued a statement Wednesday night that said “the parties appear to have agreed upon a date for the primary. That date is January 23, 2024 but it has yet to be ordered by the court.”
It was unclear whether Ganim and the other officials have agreed to all of the details of Thomas' proposed order, including a possible general election on Feb. 27.
“All parties have been in discussion and are in alignment on almost all points, but a full agreement has not been reached,” said Tara Chozet, spokesperson for the Secretary of the State's Office, in a statement issued early Wednesday evening, before Ganim's statement was issued.
Among the new safeguards proposed by Thomas, the Bridgeport town clerk would have to stamp each absentee ballot received through the drop boxes with the words “Drop Box," in addition to other required stamps.
Gomes Attorney Bill Bloss said in a statement that he would have preferred holding the primary in December, "but given the new guardrails that have been put in place regarding absentee ballots, I think it’s a fair trade.”
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to clarify that the new date was a proposal.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
---
Have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.
